Strap fastener



.April 8, 1930. B. coLAvEccHlo STRAP FASTENER Filed Feb. 20, 1929 all.

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Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITE STATES BENEDICT COLAVEGCI-IIO, F '.PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND STRAP FASTENER Application mea February 22o, 1929. serial No. 341,326.

My invention relates to'fastening devices for the straps of shoes, slippers and the like. The essential objects of my invention are to facilitate the fastening operation; to simplify the structure whereby thin sheet metal stampings may be employed; vto impart strength to the'device; and to attain these ends at a minimum of expense.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this invention .i5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe or slipper to which my fastener is applied,

Figures 2, 3 and 4, sections on lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4 of Figure 1 respectively, and

Figures 5 and 6, detail views of the constituent members of the fastener.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings 9 represents the body, and 10 and 11 the straps of a shoe or slipper of any usual or preferred construction, and it is in conjunction with such a structure that my invention is herein set forth.

My fastener comprises a relatively stationary or entrant member 14, and a relatively movable or receiving member 15, shown in detail in Figures 6 and 5 respectively, and both cut and bent by suitable tools from thin sheet metal. The member 14 comprises an oblong back plate 16 provided with forwardly bent lateral flanges 18. Near its rear end the plate 16 is provided with a transverse slot 19, and the material between the slot and the end of the base is bent to form a rearwardly offset transverse' attaching bar 20. Cut from the material of an intermediate portion of the back plate, as at 22, and bent therefrom is a broad, resilient tongue 24 comprising a forwardly directed shank portion 25 and a horizontal longitudinally disposed lip portion 26, with a forwardly inclined free end 27. The end of the strap 10 is passed through the slot 19 and around the bar 20 and stitched, as at 28, to form an attaching loop 29.

The receiving member comprises a substantially oblong face plate 30 with its forward end tapered to a point, but with a rectangular rearend. The width of the plate is equal to the width of the member 14, so that its lateral margins are adapted to abut against the fora ward edges of the flanges 18 when the members 14 and 15 are interengaged. At opposite points an intermediate portion of the plate is inwardly slit at opposite sides of originally projecting flat lateral fingers 31, which f" after being bent produce lateral cavities 32. The fingers are rearwardly directed and rectangularly bent intermediate their lengths and their ends terminate adjacent each other so that the fingers form an inset rectangular loop 35. The flat ends of this loop are a sliding fit between the inner faces of the flanges 18. At each side of the projecting loop 35 the plate 30 is provided with transverse slots 37 for the admission therethrough of the strap 11. In threading the latter through the slots l a portion of the strap near its free end forms a loop 38 in front of the resultant transverse bar 39.

The operation of my fastener is as follows: The back of the member 14 is placed against the front of the instep by one hand of the operator. With the other hand the member 15, with the strap 11 threaded the necessary distance therein, is brought into overlapping position at a point such that the loop 35 is in advance of the tongue 24, and then is released to slide into engagement therewith to the position shown in Figure 3. In performing the described operation the flanges 18 serves an important locating and guiding function for the loop 35. If the described engagement is not sufficiently intimate in any particular instance the end of the strap 11 may be manually advanced through the slots 37. Another function of the flanges 18 are to constitute a holding means for the operators fingers while the plates are being manually interengaged with each other.

I claim v 1. In a shoe including straps, an entrant fastening member comprising an oblong back plate fast at one end to one strap, forwardly directed lateral guide flanges upon the plate, a tongue comprising a forwardly directed shank portion integral with the plate between the flanges, a horizontal lip portion upon the shank, and a forwardly inclined free end, a face plate fast to the second strap adapted to abut against the forward edges of the flanges, a loop upon the back of the face plate engagcable with the guide flanges adapted to receive the lip portion and bear against the shank portion.

2. In a shoe comprising a body and a pair of overlappingretaining strapsa fastening member comprising a back plate provided with an end slot near one end, forwardly directed lateral flanges on the plate parallel with each other, a forwardly directed longitudinally disposed tongue fast to the plate between the flanges, a `loop upon the end of one strap engaging the plate through the slot, a face plate adapted to abut against the forward edges of the flanges provided with a pair of transverse slots through which ,the `end portionof the second strap is passed, and a rearwardly directed transverse .loop integral with the face plate engageable with the tongue.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

BENEDICT COLAVECCHIO. 

